Alaba, 21, joined the Bayern youth academy in 2008 and, at the age of 17 years and 232 days, became the youngest player to ever debut for Bayern Munich in a competitive match in February 2010, when he played a DFB-Pokal tie against Greuther Furth. That season, Alaba also made his Bundesliga and Champions League debuts.

Alaba, originally a midfielder, was played as a left-back by then Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, who initially said: “He is a left back, even if he does not notice it.” The Austria international went on to win vital experience during a six-month loan spell at Hoffenheim in the second half of the 2010-2011 season.

He returned to Bayern in the summer and renewed his contract until 2015. Over the past two years his partnership with Franck Ribery has, without a doubt, been one of the most impressive on the left in all of Europe.

Late last season, Bayern announced they were more than interested in extending the contract of Alaba, who was named Austrian Player Of The Year in 2011 and 2012. Despite claims in August that all contract talks on hold, it now appears that Alaba could put pen to paper on a new deal until 2019.